Monday, June 20, 2016

Medal of Honor Monday: Francis S. Currey

"He was an automatic rifleman
with the 3rd Platoon defending a strong point near Malmedy, Belgium, on
21 December 1944, when the enemy launched a powerful attack.
Overrunning tank destroyers
and antitank guns located near the strong point, German tanks advanced
to the 3rd Platoon's position, and, after prolonged fighting, forced the
withdrawal of this group to a nearby factory. Sgt. Currey found a bazooka
in the building and crossed the street to secure rockets meanwhile
enduring intense fire from enemy tanks and hostile infantrymen who had
taken up a position at a house a short distance away. In the face of
small-arms, machine gun, and artillery fire, he, with a companion,
knocked out a tank with 1 shot. Moving to another position, he observed 3
Germans in the doorway of an enemy-held house. He killed or wounded all
3 with his automatic rifle. He emerged from cover and advanced alone to
within 50 yards of the house, intent on wrecking it with rockets.
Covered by friendly fire, he stood erect, and fired a shot which knocked
down half of 1 wall. While in this forward position, he observed 5
Americans who had been pinned down for hours by fire from the house and 3
tanks. Realizing that they could not escape until the enemy tank and
infantry guns had been silenced, Sgt. Currey crossed the street to a
vehicle, where he procured an armful of antitank grenades. These he
launched while under heavy enemy fire, driving the tank men from the
vehicles into the house. He then climbed onto a half-track in full view of the Germans and fired a machine gun at the house. Once
again changing his position, he manned another machine gun whose crew had
been killed; under his covering fire the 5 soldiers were able to retire
to safety. Deprived of tanks and with heavy infantry casualties, the
enemy was forced to withdraw. Through his extensive knowledge of weapons
and by his heroic and repeated braving of murderous enemy fire, Sgt.
Currey was greatly responsible for inflicting heavy losses in men and
material on the enemy, for rescuing 5 comrades, 2 of whom were wounded,
and for stemming an attack which threatened to flank his battalion's
position."